Mary Cocchiarella v. Donald Driggs

Minnesota’s lockout statute applies only to the “actual or constructive removal or exclusion of a,residential tenant.” Minn. Stat. § 504B.375, subd. 1(a) (2014). The phrase “residential tenant” is defined as follows:

“Residential tenant” means a person who is occupying a dwelling in a residential building under a lease or contract, whether oral or written, that requires the payment of money or exchange of services, all other regular occupants of that dwelling unit, or a resident of a manufactured home park.

Minn.Stat. § 504B.001, subd. 12 (2014) (emphasis added).

The housing court, the district…